Transmission/Clutch Issue

[AMG ETR]

Need some help guys... Recently I have been getting a vibration in my clutch pedal. It only happens when I am in gear, the clutch pedal makes a very choppy feel when pushing in or letting it release. When the car is in neutral it feels completely normal... The feeling also comes and goes, but today was there almost the whole time I was driving... Another note is it seems like the release point of the clutch fluctuates a bit (sometimes its closer to the floor others its higher up).

My 2 thoughts right now are:
1. Air in the clutch lines, but then why would it be normal in neutral and not in gear?
2. Throwout bearing?

So, any suggestions??
Thanks Guys,
Evan
PS- My car has only 11K miles on it and the only mods related to the tranny are HPF Clutch and CDV Delete (From Zeck)

[frankieb96]

doubt it's a throw out bearing, you just got a new one with the HPF clutch. . .might be a pilot bearing?

[///M3-QTR]

^ aren't the throw out bearing and pilot bearing the same thing ?

I would bleed the system first and see if it helps .

[frankieb96]

^ aren't the throw out bearing and pilot bearing the same thing ?

I would bleed the system first and see if it helps .

no, they're 2 totally different things

pilot: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BL93&mospid=47714&btnr=11_3003&hg=11&fg=20&hl=6

throw out: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BL93&mospid=47714&btnr=21_0093&hg=21&fg=05&hl=87

obviously try to bleed it first, as that is the quickest and cheapest solution if it works. did you install the CDV yourself?

[deltasleep]

mine does the same thing, Ravi's does it also. Price we pay for a clutch that holds 700+ horse power.

[frankieb96]

mine does the same thing, Ravi's does it also. Price we pay for a clutch that holds 700+ horse power.

i think he's talking about something different. . . not about the chatter of when a grabby clutch tries to slip

[WiAlFe1229]

If I were you I would bleed it first. If that doesn't fix your problem ask HPF. Its their clutch after all

[AMG ETR]

This isn't chatter, its a pedal vibration, it does chatter too but I know thats normal. I am going to be working on the car tonight anyway so I will bleed it and hope for the best, but the fact that it doesn't do it in Neutral I don't think thats the issue :(
Evan

[DLSJ5]

This isn't chatter, its a pedal vibration, it does chatter too but I know thats normal. I am going to be working on the car tonight anyway so I will bleed it and hope for the best, but the fact that it doesn't do it in Neutral I don't think thats the issue :(
Evan

Pretty sure it's the clutch Evan, SMG guys won't feel it because there's no pedal, but there is some vibration upon intial clutch engagement in 1st and 2nd.

[AMG ETR]

Pretty sure it's the clutch Evan, SMG guys won't feel it because there's no pedal, but there is some vibration upon intial clutch engagement in 1st and 2nd.

THis is something that just started and has a VERY strange feel.... Its not chatter at all... Plus itsn ot just 1st and second it can happen in almost any gear besides N.... It wasn't like this the first 2,000 miles unless the clutch is already shot :banghead:
Evan

[HPF Chris]

THis is something that just started and has a VERY strange feel.... Its not chatter at all... Plus itsn ot just 1st and second it can happen in almost any gear besides N.... It wasn't like this the first 2,000 miles unless the clutch is already shot :banghead:
Evan

The clutch disk won't be shot as there's nothing in a disk to make a vibration like that, and these clutches have lasted over 30,000 miles in some cars (depending on how they're driven - some could last as short as 10,000 miles). It could be the pressure plate but that is very very rare. It is most likely the throwout bearing, but since your clutch is sometimes engaging low and sometimes engaging high, I would look at the little plastic pin as well. We've never seen a clutch or pressure plate cause this vibration but we have seen throwout bearings do it, and crank walk (I had this once in my Supra) (which I don't believe you have because you said sometimes it goes away and crank walk never goes away). It could also be the tranny which would be very unfortunate. I do have an extra transmission now that came with one of the motors I bought.

Robert Henning had a clutch issue w/SMG that would constantly engage differently. We pulled his clutch out and found the little $1.85 pin that the fork sits on was cracked and would cause the clutch to engage at different points. We've also seen throwout bearings go bad in under 1,000 miles. I think there are some defects with those. We've never seen a pedal vibration due to our clutches and we've installed a LOT of them. But hey, there's a first time for everything. I think ultimately the best coarse of action is to pull the transmission out and see what's in there. You'll be able to check the throwout bearing, fork, pin, clutch, pressure plate and even check for crank-walk while you're at it. If all of those check out, check the pilot bearing, dual mass flywheel (could be shot), and if it's none of those you'll have to determine if it's the transmission. Hopefully it's the $1.85 plastic pin. :)

Either way, send us pictures. We'll determine the best coarse of action based on what you find out. If it's our stuff, we'll make you whole. If the other parts, we'll help you source them and get you back on the road.

Take care,
Chris.

[andryxa]

just got the same problem today. especially when i start out the clutch pedal just feels very choppy. i have almost 90k but the clutch doesnt slip or anything just sometimes feels choppy for a couple mins and goes away, what could be the problem? weirdest feeling ever cause i feel all paranoid that it will go out any second.

[HPF Chris]

just got the same problem today. especially when i start out the clutch pedal just feels very choppy. i have almost 90k but the clutch doesnt slip or anything just sometimes feels choppy for a couple mins and goes away, what could be the problem? weirdest feeling ever cause i feel all paranoid that it will go out any second.

There's a big difference between chatter and what Evan is experiencing. Many people attempt to drive their aftermarket clutches like stock clutches. This can't be done because the friction coefficient of the aftermarket clutch is greater than the coefficient of the stock clutch. What this means is more engine torque is applied to the rear tires faster, so you have to give the car more gas when you go from a stop or you will feel the clutch jerk.

What's happening is the clutch is grabbing then forced to not grab hence the chatter on take off. Just give your car 500 more rpm when you leave from a stop until the chatter goes away. Once the chatter goes away you can drive like normal.

With SMG cars and an aftermarket clutch, once this chatter starts, your foot will move on the gas pedal. This will cause even more jerkiness which will cause the whole car to jerk. With an SMG car, just give about 10% more throttle on takeoff and this problem will go away.

Chris.

[andryxa]

i have a stock clutch

[HPF Chris]

i have a stock clutch

SMG or not?

[///M3Turk]

SMG or not?

According to his profile, his car is a 2000 Gold 323ci 5sp

[HPF Chris]

Well even if it is a stock clutch on a different car the general rule I use is, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". However....Bad vibrations when the car is "in gear" and running or "in neutral" and running are a different story. Those need to be addressed to determine the cause immediately.

Chatter when engaging the clutch is normal with a lot of clutches. And sometimes as clutches go out they will chatter. Mostly when they go out they will just slip. But they will almost always give you another month of driving even after they start slipping.

Chris.

[///M3Turk]

Well even if it is a stock clutch on a different car the general rule I use is, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". However....Bad vibrations when the car is "in gear" and running or "in neutral" and running are a different story. Those need to be addressed to determine the cause immediately.

Chatter when engaging the clutch is normal with a lot of clutches. And sometimes as clutches go out they will chatter. Mostly when they go out they will just slip. But they will almost always give you another month of driving even after they start slipping.

Chris.
+1




My clutch always chatter when i engage it..I recently put a new one on my car and it still does it.. i guess its my bearing thingy!?

[andryxa]

Well even if it is a stock clutch on a different car the general rule I use is, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". However....Bad vibrations when the car is "in gear" and running or "in neutral" and running are a different story. Those need to be addressed to determine the cause immediately.

Chatter when engaging the clutch is normal with a lot of clutches. And sometimes as clutches go out they will chatter. Mostly when they go out they will just slip. But they will almost always give you another month of driving even after they start slipping.

Chris.

5sp, pretty sure its the original clutch too.
it comes and goes but when it does vibrate the whole car shakes a bit on take offs and and when i shift. then it goes away and feels normal again. started happening about every 10 mins now

[InDiGlOM3]

Chris hook me up with that tranny, Im sure my syncros are bad, but im sure you guys will know when you get my car. me and dave however talked about just gettin it fixed but not sure the price.

[HPF Chris]

Chris hook me up with that tranny, Im sure my syncros are bad, but im sure you guys will you when you get my car. me and dave however talked about just gettin it fixed but not sure the price.

Not a problem. Be safe Jesse.

Chris.